ACCESS4ALL Group

A significant climate change induced impact in my community (Chikwawa district, Malawi) is the increasing intensity of floods and droughts, driven by erratic rainfall and extreme weather events. Flooding along the Shire River repeatedly destroys crops, homes and infrastructure, while prolonged dry spells reduce agricultural productivity and exacerbate food insecurity. These shocks disproportionately affect smallholder farmers who depend on rain-fed agriculture. Climate-related health risks, including malaria and waterborne diseases, also rise after floods. In response, communities are adopting drought-tolerant crops, conservation agriculture and early warning systems, supported by government and NGOs through disaster preparedness, social protection and catchment management initiatives. However, long-term resilience remains a critical challenge.